Rights for Disabled People

In the US (and indeed worldwide) rights for disabled people became a significant driving force in the 1970s, inspired by the women’s rights movements and the African American Civil rights. There have been several Acts passed over the last few decades that fully recognize and support disabled people and their rights.

A Guide to these Disability Right Laws can be found here: http://www.ada.gov/cguide.htm

One of the more significant laws passed to help disabled people is the Americans with Disabilities Act 1990. This act, which you can read more about here (http://www.ada.gov) covers:

Giving disabled people equal opportunities in employment

Equal opportunities in provision of education, healthcare and social services by the government

Provision of public transport that is made accessible to be disabled persons

Making sure that businesses like doctors, shops, hotels etc accommodate wheelchair access and other disabilities

Telephone and television allowances for people with disabilities in hearing and speech.

Some frequently asked questions about employment and the Americans with Disabilities Act can be found here: http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/intellectual_disabilities.html

Other significant Acts that support the rights of Disabled People are:

Telecommunications Act

Fair Housing Act

Air Carrier Access Act

Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act

National Voter Registration Act

Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

Rehabilitation Act

Architectural Barriers Act

You can read more about these acts here: http://www.ada.gov/cguide.htm

Some people we can thank for the progress of getting rights for disabled people are Ed Roberts and John Tyler.

Ed Roberts, who campaigned to get in UC Berkeley and succeed in 1962. His efforts to get into to Berkeley were also accompanied by campaigning for access into the community. He also co-founded the World Institute on Disability (WID) (http://www.wid.org) with Judith Heumann. The WID works to advocate the civil rights of disabled people. You can read more about Ed Roberts here: http://ilusa.com/links/022301ed_roberts.htm

John Tyler, who was wheelchair bound because of severe polio parked his wheelchair in front of Metro buses in Seattle, which resulted in wheelchair lifts being put into public buses. You can read more about John Tyler and the disability rights movement here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disability_rights_movement

Lastly we should touch upon the Independent Living Movement (made popular by Ed Roberts), which is more of a philosophy, but adopted worldwide to remove the negative connotations surrounding disabled people and removing the restrictions also placed on disabled people. Independent living USA is a great resource for disabled people and their families to help independent living. http://www.ilusa.com/

With all these advocates for disabled people’s rights access, travel, integration into the community, employment are becoming easier options for the disabled. There is still a lot more that could be done, but we are going in the right direction.